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Tuesday, 29 October 2013

How I finalised e430?

So, I bought my first laptop last year. Why so late? Well, I know PCs are better than Laptops and I don't like wasting money. So I waited until I really needed a computer on the go. The time came finally and my father too agreed to buy me a laptop. I did extensive research and talked to so many people and shopkeepers, read tonnes of reviews on Internet, and messed up my mind, LOL! Though finally I made a decision and thought to buy a HP dv6.

My cousin lives abroad and told me he would buy me one and I can give him money when we meet since the laptops are quite cheaper in his country as compared to India. So I started more research to find something more durable and one that carries International Warranty. Sony was one that I immediately ruled out off the list of choices since the cheaper ones are not durable and durable ones are damn expensive! Toshiba is not too popular in India(even as yet), so I had to give up that also because not too popular implies, bad service(lack of service centres, contacts, etc.) Dell never seems appealing to me, I gave up on that idea way before Sony! :P Moreover, though popular, the reviews of dell(once the warranty expires) are worst! HP doesn't come with an international warranty, and I was thinking of buying a dv6. I gave up that idea too.

Now I was thinking about Lenovo IdeaPad. After much roaming around the city and getting reviews, my father suggested me to look for IBM. I thought oh yes, I never thought about it. I came to know it now sells by the name of Lenovo ThinkPad. I immediately started my research. Found that though Lenovo won't be giving me International warranty, and if I want it I'll have to pay extra. But it's Thinkpad people! their durability is unmatched. Even MacBook stand nowhere when we talk of the durability of a ThinkPad. I was confused between e430 and the tougher option T430, but I thought to go for the less expensive one and bought the e430.

Description of what I bought

ThinkPad Edge E430

Processor

Intel Core i3-2350M Processor (3M Cache, 2.30GHz)

Operating system

Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit)

Operating system language

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 - English

Display type

14.0" W HD (1366 x 768) LED AntiGlare, Midnight Black

System graphics

Intel HD Graphics (WWAN or mSATA capable)

Total memory

4 GB DDR3 - 1600MHz (1 DIMM)

Keyboard

Keyboard - US English

Pointing device

UltraNav with FingerPrint Reader

Camera

720p HD Camera

Hard drive

500GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm

Optical device

DVD Recordable

Battery

6 cell Li-Ion Battery 48WH - 75+

Power cord

65W AC Adapter - US (3pin)

Integrated WiFi wireless LAN adapters

Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230 & Bluetooth 4.0 (2x2 BGN & BT4)

Language pack

Publication - US English

Warranty

1 Year Express Depot

Main Review

When talking about this laptop, the first thing that solves most queries related to durability and quality is to highlight the fact that it's a ThinkPad, the original IBM series. It's been over an year now since I have been using it(I bought it in October '12 end) and so it is perfect to review about it, and I can tell about most things.

Display

14" screen makes it an 'easy-enough' display which bundles the portability by being a bit smaller than the other Edge variant, e530. 14" sometimes sounds small, but when you'll use it you'll know it is the most sufficient one. 14" being lighter and smaller, are even more portable than the 15" ones.

Weight

Didn't weigh it on a scale as such, LOL! It is average when we talk about weight, I guess a little lighter than the corresponding Z series of IdeaPad, as their specs suggest. Though the difference is of few hundred gram, but you know when you have to carry more than just a laptop(as is the case most of the times), this difference even looks like a life saver! Or shall we say, shoulder saver? :D

Battery Backup

I have experienced battery backup ranging from 4 hours(at least) upto 7 hours. Don't think that the laptop would give a high backup from day one, it started giving a good backup after a couple of weeks passed. A good tip from my experience: Use power adapter more frequently than the battery for initial weeks, which I guess all laptop users already know.

Durability

With an experience of more than a year now, I'm in a good position to say a little about Durability(not too much though since I habdle things with care! :P), but it's a ThinkPad, "The Business Standard Laptop", ought to be durable and most reviews on the Internet suggest that. Though my ThinkPad looks as good as new, but as I said I handle things carefully, I won't say much about durability of an expensive thing. Though with my usage(I use it almost all day long) and handling, it seems to be quite durable. I have read many reviews on Internet as I told you all, and it is said that ThinkPad are more durable than MacBook!!! :D

Keyboard

It lacks the Numpad as any 14" laptop, but still the keyboard is amazing. The keys are silent and the keyboard formation is such that it feels quite comfortable while typing. The Trackpad is centre aligned rather than left aligned in most laptops. This makes the laptop surfce around the Trackpad become a good palmrest as I type! :D It has got dedicated media control buttons so no need to drag the pointer to the pause/play button, Volume Up/Down, Brightness, Wifi, Camera, Mic, or Mute! One thing it lacks is a Pause/Break button which I, as a programmer, feel quite sad about.

ThinkVantage Tools

These are a group of software that come bundled with your ThinkPad Laptop. They are great for maintenance purpose, keeping track of battery, etc. and some good utilities, such as added functionality for the Finger Print Reader. More about ThinVanatge Tools, you can find on the Internet, since talking about them is a different thing altogether.

Looks

Something I love! I don't like those glossy laptops, they look irritating. The matte look makes the user feel like using a classy thing, and not something that's common with everybody. So it seems like I have the classier thing as compared to most of my peers! :D To be specific, none of my friends own a Business Series, they all have that glossy consumer line ones! :P So I feel like the king! haha!! :D

Gamers

The only problem is that there is no room for a dedicated GPU in case you wish to upgrade at a later stage. You have to rely on the Intel HD Graphics alone. So gamers! e430 should not be anything in your wishlist. Well, when I bought it there was no option, so I am not sure if they now have a slot for GPU too :) This thing you gotta check on your own, I don't know. Maybe the new e431 supports it, but I am not sure!

Added Features

This Business line of Lenovo has certain unique features that most of the laptops don't have. These include:

Linux Support - ThinkPad supports Linux OS. This means that it is configured to run Linux, which heats up most laptops excessively if not administered by a professional or someone with good knowledge of Linux.

TrackPoint - Perhaps the oldest feature running from the IBM ThinkPad inherited by Lenovo too, makes it really easy to scroll and use pointer with keyboard at times, without the need of a mouse.

Finger Print Reader - haha! It is amazing. I can store my passwords and attach them to one of the 10 digits of my hands. Thus the ThinkPad can record 10 fingerprints and for each finger I can assign a quick link to any of my favourite websites where I need to log in. So I just swipe my finger and the website logs in! No need to enter password again and again and worry about it's loss! :D

Ports

It has got 3 USB 3.0 ports, and one eSATA(that is a USB 2.0 port that can be used even when the laptop is powered off. It is used to charge devices from Laptop battery). Moreover e430 has both HDMI and VGA ports so that you can connect to all sorts of displays easily, so be happy those who worry about their laptop connectivities during presentations! :D One Ethernet port with a Gigabit Ethernet Card which means super fast speed on Wired LAN connections!

Everyday Users(NOT GAMING), My verdict for you

e430 is the BEST choice and worth every penny! It is a better choice than consumer line IdeaPad, or Pavilion g6, or Inspiron(I don't know about XPS or dv6 so I'd not comment). Spend a little extra over that IdeaPad and buy yourself a Thinkpad, a complete package of Class, Quality, Durability and Amazingness!

Friday, 25 October 2013

Hello everyone! I think I have done all the things I had to prior to writing my first review on this blog.

Today I am writing a review of the product: "ManHunt Shaving Cream"

I bought ManHunt Sahving Cream as a filler to avail a discount which needed a minimum cart value during online shopping a few weeks back. I wasn't quite sure of my purchase since I have never heard of the name of this company before, leave alone the product! But then, I wasn't having a good time with the old ones I was using till then. Dettol made my skin dry and so did Palmolive and Old Spice. I did try Vi-John too, but well it was worse. Finally I bout Axe, though before I could try it, ManHunt arrived and I thought to give it a try first.

Lather: 5 on 5

Now, it was an amazing experience, seriously! I didn't expect that. The cream lathers perfectly, I mean just perfectly! As compared to the other ones I have used, I require ManHunt in half the quantity as others. The lather in simple words is superb. It doesn't even over-dries my skin like the others did.

Cost: 10 on 5 :D

The cost part, it is quite pocket friendly and cheap as compared to others :D Moreover when it is required in half the quantity, well it makes it even cost-effective! :) Moreover I think there is a forever 40% extra on the tubes! :D

Commercial of ManHunt Shaving Foam:

Smell: 2 on 5

The smell of the shaving cream is just bearable. But when thought to be called good or bad, I would say, it is not good. Although since most people use After Shave lotions, ManHunt Shaving Cream's fragrance is light enough to be easily hidden by any good After Shave Lotion :)

Side Effect

I saw no side effects as such. The packaging said the shaving cream contains Tea Tree Oil which keeps the skin moist and prevents over-dryness. I would say it is true. It doesn't let the skin become over-dried as most other shaving creams did to me.

Brand Value and Manufacturing

I don't know if many people know this name. Atleast this Shaving Cream is not popular in New Delhi, India even though it is manufactured at Wazirpur Industrial Area.

Overall: 4 on 5

My overall experience have been really good with this Shaving Cream and I recommend it to all. I am sure you'll come across it on several Indian Online Shopping Websites :) If they improve their fragrance, I am sure I would never buy any other shaving cream! :D

Saturday, 19 October 2013

Myself "Critix", the owner of this blog. I am bringing for you all my own review portal even when I know so many popular and trustworthy ones already exist! I agree my attempt might turn to yet another website/blog in the pool of so many others with similar content, with better writers and which are already scoring high with regular readers, visitors and subscribers, but still I would try my level best to make this place as good as I can. Whatever things I think most reviews on Internet lack, I mean from my point of view, I will try to post reviews which don't lack those things/points.

I hope you all make a wonderful readership to my blog and help me get rid of my deficiencies in writing, post your suggestions and requests to help make this blog better and transform it into a bubbling community of people from all around the globe.